It's too soon to rate the decade of the 00's, because to have perspective one first needs distance. Still, lists are all the rage this time of year, especially as a decade comes to a close. So with that in mind I made out a list of my favorite movies by year for the decade of the 00's [I know, some people feel the decade didn't actually begin until 2001 and ends in 2010. For the purposes of this blog let's say it began in '00 and ends in '09].
2000 - Gladiator
A surprising entry considering I didn't even like it the first time I saw it. It wasn't until I re-watched it a few years ago that it made a connection. Russell Crowe is Maximus. The story is simple, but it's in the telling. It's grand spectacle by a master director.
2001 - The Fellowship of the Ring
As soon as the lights went up opening night and the theater burst into applause, followed by a standing ovation, I knew this was an instant classic. An epic worthy of the book.
2002 - The Two Towers
Peter Jackson and company score again with this rousing second chapter of the "Lord of the Rings" saga. While "Fellowship" can be classified as a quest film, "Towers" is a flat out war movie.
2003 - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
An artfully realized adaption of valor and brotherhood.
2004 - The Passion of the Christ
Matters of faith aside, I found Mel Gibson's movie about the last hours of Jesus' life to be disturbing, haunting and uplifting.
2005 - Batman begins
In an era where "Comic book" movies were king, Christopher Nolan upped the ante with this origin story that takes a here to fore "Cheap" genre and makes it art. A stellar cast enhance, not overshadow, this masterpiece.
2006 - Casino Royale
Like Christopher Nolan with "Begins", director Martin Campbell resurrects a cultural icon. Gone are the girls and gadgets formula that had worn thin under increasingly vapid efforts. Daniel Craig is, and I know this is blasphemous, the best actor to play Bond. Period. You believe utterly that this man can and will do what he does.
2007 - 300
"300" isn't a subtle film. In an era of increased sensitivity, it's loud, brutal and un-apologetically male. Virtually every line is some ode to valor and glory and is screamed with spittle producing fury. I can't help but love it.
2008 - The Dark Knight
"The Dark Knight" is not a pleasant film. It's not a film you just pop in on a whim. It's unflinching. Disturbing. Brutal. It's also brilliant. It's a film that absolutely crushes you, but shrouded in all of that darkness is a ray of light. Our hero, battered, broken and robbed of what he loved the most takes the world on his shoulders so we don't have to. There are no thank yous. No cheering crowds. In fact, he's invited hatred and scorn to do the right thing. In that moment, we feel hope rise as the screen fades to black.
2009- Star Trek
On the opposite side of the spectrum is J.J. Abrams re-boot of "Star Trek". His Trek is fun. It's optimistic. I hadn't had that much fun at a movie in years. That's not to say it's unsubstantial. It may not be deep, but it does does a variety of emotions. Simply put, it saved a franchise dangerously close to becoming irrelevant.
4 comments:
Excellent list as always, Tony. I still haven't seen every one of them, but they certainly are good picks, and your reasons are spot-on. If I may play along:
(2000) Gladiator
Spot on. There haven't been many historical epics in the last era that lit up the box office like the swords-and-sandals blockbusters of old, but then Crowe appeared and was found worthy.
(2001) Ocean's Eleven
Just as GLADIATOR brought back the historical epic, so to did OCEAN'S revive the snazzy heist flick with a style and winking charm rarely matched.
(2002) Whale Rider
While basically KARATE KID with a tween girl and a whale, it's an intelligent, heartwarming indie gem of precious brilliance.
(2003) Peter Pan
Not only is it the best adaptation one could ever hope to get from that uber-whimsical, sometimes indecipherable novel, but it's one of the most sweeping and emotionally honest films both for and about children to pry its way through the Hollywood system.
(2004) The Incredibles
Intelligent, exciting, dynamic, hilarious, and shockingly honest at times, this brilliant throwback broke barriers and set new stakes for both superhero blockbusters and animated family flicks.
(2005) Just Friends
For my money, this is the greatest holiday rom-com ever made, because the characters are genuinely flawed people, the awkward bits actually are painfully awkward, and it's got some of the most quotable one-liners since THE PRINCESS BRIDE. Oh, and it's damn well written, directed, and cast.
(2006) V for Vendetta
Though BATMAN BEGINS beat it to the punch when it comes to brooding, philosophical superheroes, V was the first to perfect the style by adding a heaping dose of political commentary and sporting an admittedly anarchistic lead who didn't hesitate to kill on a striking scale. Plus, it's the most gripping script the Wachowski's ever wrote, sports the finest direction they didn't do, and is still the best adaptation of Alan Moore, whether he accepts it or not.
(2007) No Country for Old Men
Haunting, terrifying, instantly captivating thriller with one of the most unforgettable villains in recent years, and an antihero more than worthy of the challenge.
(2008) Wall-E
Only Pixar could take the devastation of Earth and the fall of humanity and make one of the most charming and heartwarming comedy adventures of all time.
(2009) pending
I've seen so few of this year's films that it really wouldn't be fair to judge. Except to say that it's probably not SORORITY ROW. :)
Excellent list as always, Tony. I still haven't seen every one of them, but they certainly are good picks, and your reasons are spot-on.
Thank, man.
If I may play along:
Please.
(2001) Ocean's Eleven
Just as GLADIATOR brought back the historical epic, so to did OCEAN'S revive the snazzy heist flick with a style and winking charm rarely matched.
I still haven't seen it yet but I think I'd like it. And you're right, it did bring back the heist flick genre in a big, big way.
(2003) Peter Pan
Not only is it the best adaptation one could ever hope to get from that uber-whimsical, sometimes indecipherable novel, but it's one of the most sweeping and emotionally honest films both for and about children to pry its way through the Hollywood system.
I just barely remember this one coming out. How'd it do at the b/o?
(2005) Just Friends
For my money, this is the greatest holiday rom-com ever made, because the characters are genuinely flawed people, the awkward bits actually are painfully awkward, and it's got some of the most quotable one-liners since THE PRINCESS BRIDE. Oh, and it's damn well written, directed, and cast.
I have no memory of this one at all believe it or not.
(2006) V for Vendetta
Though BATMAN BEGINS beat it to the punch when it comes to brooding, philosophical superheroes, V was the first to perfect the style by adding a heaping dose of political commentary and sporting an admittedly anarchistic lead who didn't hesitate to kill on a striking scale. Plus, it's the most gripping script the Wachowski's ever wrote, sports the finest direction they didn't do, and is still the best adaptation of Alan Moore, whether he accepts it or not.
I know you've been on me to watch this for a while now. And now that I've seen "Watchmen"...
(2009) pending
I've seen so few of this year's films that it really wouldn't be fair to judge. Except to say that it's probably not SORORITY ROW. :)
Lol! But it's got Carrie Fisher! So it's bad, eh? I know what you mean, I only caught a handful of this year's flicks at the movie and they're just starting to trickle in on DVD. But I felt comfortable with "Star Trek" because I couldn't imagine any of the others topping it. I had "Watchmen" as a close second.
Man, I've only seen 2 out of the 10 movies on your list, and one of them "The Incredibles", I didn't see until this year [And I loved it].
Great, great synopsis'.
I just barely remember this one coming out. How'd it do at the b/o?
PETER PAN did well in foreign markets, but only scraped together $40 mil at the US box-officer. It was supposed to be the big holiday family release, but RETURN OF THE KING had come out just one week earlier. And it didn't help that a lot of critics were openly uncomfortable with a romance between pre-teen characters, despite that coming straight from the classic book.
I know you've been on me to watch this for a while now. And now that I've seen "Watchmen"...
Even more than THE MATRIX, V FOR VENDETTA is a story about the deep, intertwined relationships between characters and their societies.
Lol! But it's got Carrie Fisher! So it's bad, eh?
SORORITY ROW is so bad that I haven't even watched it yet. :p
Finally got my 2009 film. I was going to say AVATAR because it's a solid movie that breaks new ground on filming techniques and will likely change cinema for decades to come, but the story of that film just didn't stand up to the ballsy, grimy, vulgar, and so honestly human portrayal it received in DISTRICT 9. AVATAR took an old tale and made it feel more polished. DISTRICT 9 took an old story and made it completely unique and new.
Even more than THE MATRIX, V FOR VENDETTA is a story about the deep, intertwined relationships between characters and their societies.
I'll add it to the list.
SORORITY ROW is so bad that I haven't even watched it yet. :p
Lol!
Finally got my 2009 film. I was going to say AVATAR because it's a solid movie that breaks new ground on filming techniques and will likely change cinema for decades to come, but the story of that film just didn't stand up to the ballsy, grimy, vulgar, and so honestly human portrayal it received in DISTRICT 9. AVATAR took an old tale and made it feel more polished. DISTRICT 9 took an old story and made it completely unique and new.
Wow! I didn't expect that. But having talked with you about both, I guess it shouldn't surprise me.
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